About
It all started in 2006 when I got a phone call from a friend of mine who had recently entered the sub-culture known as Professional Bull Riding, or PBR. He told me that a guy who had gotten hit by a train was going to be bull riding in Chiefland. So I grabbed the only camera that I could get a hold of and left for Renegade Rodeo in Chielfand Florida that very afternoon. When I got there I was greeted by cowboys, trucks, and bulls. Right away I met the cowboy Chris Wilson and I knew I had a star on my hands. His strong cowboy personality and infectious southern candor made for great content. I pushed REC and started filming.
I could tell from the beginning that I was getting some good footage because of what the cowboy had been through. He got drunk one night at a bar in Orlando called 8 seconds (you might have heard of it if you like line dancing) and walked right out in front of a train. I do not know how you walk in front of a train but I have heard that you cannot hear it coming until it is right in front of you. This is the only way I can rationalize what happened to Chris Wilson. Believe it or not, he was now married to the girl who he was with when the train hit him in 1996. When I say with him, I mean she saw him get hit and called the hospital.
After interviewing Chris Wilson, it was time to set up so we could watch the show and see just how long he could last on the back of that bull. I set up my tripod in the bed of one of the trucks and started shooting. I cannot tell you how much adrenaline was pumping through my veins while watching Chris ride that bull. Here was a man who despite blaring reasons not to ride, like certain death, was there on the back of bull and staying on.
Chris had just started bull riding when the train hit him in the face “it was one of them that I started but didn’t finish.” From the outside, it seems like a story about MAN vs. BEAST but after watching the documentary you realize it’s about MAN vs. HIMSELF. Here was a cowboy who had just gotten into the sport as a young buck and comes back to finish what he started. This story was filmed all in one day. I had one shot to catch him on video and I did. One moment in time when dreams come true.
I hope that Chris Wilson’s story inspires people to always finish their dream even if it kills you. Also, just go out and film. I truly believe that if your story is strong enough, and this story is VERY strong, then you don’t need an HD camera to tell it. Just believe in your ability and SHOOT!
-Gabriel Kipling Tyner
I remenber the day this was filmed. Chris worked for me at the time and we had many conversations, and a lot of laughs, about him wanting to finish what he started. We had him out to our house on a lazy summer day with his family. His kids went outside and started jumping on our trampoline. It just so happened Chris and I were sitting on my deck talking about him riding bulls again. I said arent you worried about your legs flying off? We both laughed and decided that would be a sight to see. Then he decided if they would stay on while he did a back flip on the trampoline he should be ok. So, you guessed it, he did two back flips on our tampoline and kept both legs on. Funniest damn thing I ever saw. We actually captured the moment on video hoping his legs would fly off and land on the roof so we could split the $10,000. Anyhow so glad to see it was actually released and won awards. I would love to see the whole thing even though I witnessed it live.
can not wait to see what great work gabriel does on the gangs in schools story i am so proud of him for attacking such a dangerous but all to common subject God Bless him